Geometric outlines and

physiological form of the teeth

and functions
A Geometric Concept of Crown Outlines
• In general, all aspects of the tooth crown except the incisal or
occlusal aspects may be outlined schematically within three
geometric forms: a triangle, a trapezoid and a rhomboid.

• Facial and Lingual Aspects of All Teeth

The outlines of the facial and lingual aspects of all
the teeth may be represented by trapezoids of
various dimensions.
 Facial and Lingual Aspects of All Teeth

Advantages

▪ Interproximal space may accommodate interproximal tissue.

▪ Spacing between the roots of one tooth and those of another allows sufficient bone
tissue for investment for the teeth and a supporting structure required to hold up
gingival tissue to a normal level. Sufficient circulation of blood to the parts would
be impossible without this spacing.
▪ Each tooth crown in the dental arches makes contact with adjoining tooth/teeth. This
arrangement provides mutual support and occlusal stability. It also helps protect the
interproximal gingival tissue from trauma during mastication.
▪ Each tooth in each dental arch has two antagonists in the opposing arch excepting
the mandibular central incisor and the maxillary third molar. In the event of loss of
any tooth, this arrangement tends to prevent elongation of antagonists and help
stabilize the remaining teeth over a longer period than would be likely if each tooth
had but a single antagonist
 Mesial and Distal Aspects of the Anterior Teeth

The mesial and distal aspects of the

anterior teeth (central incisors, lateral
incisors, and canines) maxillary and
mandibular, may be included within
triangle figures.
Advantages:
• A wide base to the crown for strength.
• Tapered outlines (labially and lingually),
narrowing downward to a relatively thin
ridge which facilitates the penetration of
food material.
Mesial and Distal Aspects of Maxillary Posterior Teeth
The outlines of the mesial and distal aspects of all maxillary
posterior teeth (premolars and molars) can be included within
trapezoidal figures.

Advantages

• Because the occlusal surface is constricted, the tooth can be

forced into food material more easily.
• If the occlusal surface was as wide as the base of the crown, the
additional chewing surface would multiply the forces of
mastication.
 Mesial and Distal Aspects of Mandibular Posterior Teeth
• The mandibular posterior teeth, when
approached from the mesial or distal
aspects, are somewhat rhomboidal in
outline.
• The occlusal surfaces are constricted in
comparison with the bases, as in
maxillary posterior teeth.
• The rhomboidal outline inclines the
crowns lingual to the root bases,
bringing the cusps into proper occlusion
with the cusps of the maxillary teeth.
 Physiological Form of the Teeth
Physiological form of the teeth help to maintain their positions in
the dental arch and protect the tissues during mastication.
• Fundamental Curvatures of teeth (protective functional form
of the teeth)
1. Proximal contact areas
2. Interproximal spaces (formed by proximal surface in contact)
3. Embrasures (spillways)
4. Labial and buccal contours at the cervical thirds (cervical ridges) and lingual
contours at the middle thirds of crowns
5. Curvatures of the cervical lines on mesial and distal surfaces
(cementoenamel junction [CEJ])
• All teeth contours including contact areas and embrasures are
important in the function and health of the oral tissues.
 1. Proximal contact areas
• Positive contact relation mesially and distally of one tooth
with another while they are on their respective position in
the dental arch.
• Except last molars (third molars, if present), each tooth has
two contacting members adjoining it. The last molar is in
contact only with the tooth mesial to it.
• Importance of contact area:
1-it helps stabilize the dental arches by the combined
anchorage of all the teeth in either arch in positive contact
with each other
2- It serves to keep food from packing between the teeth. If,
for any reason, food is forced between the teeth past the
contact areas, the gingival tissue, which normally fills the
interdental spaces, may become inflamed
• Contacts area are observed from two views: Labial/Buccal aspect

1-Labial/Buccal aspect:
demonstrates the cervicoincisal/cervico-occlusal position.

Each tooth has two contact areas: Mesial and distal, except last
molar which does not have distal contact
2- Incisal/occlusal aspect:
demonstrate the facio-lingual position

Proper contact relation between the adjacent teeth Incisal/Occlusal aspect

 2-Interproximal spaces
• The interproximal spaces between the teeth are triangularly
shaped spaces normally filled by gingival tissue (gingival
papillae).
• The base of the triangle is the alveolar process, the sides of
the triangle are the proximal surfaces of the contacting teeth,
and the apex of the triangle is in the area of contact.
• Proper contact and alignment of adjoining teeth allows
proper spacing between them for the normal bulk of gingival
tissue attached to the bone and teeth. This gingival tissue is a
continuation of the gingiva covering all of the alveolar
process. The surface keratinization of the gingiva and the
density and elasticity of the gingival tissues help maintain
these tissues against trauma during mastication and invasion
by bacteria.
3-Embrasures (Spillways)
• When two teeth in the same arch are in
contact, their curvatures adjacent to the
contact areas form spillway spaces called
embrasures.
• Embrasures are named relative to the
contact area:

• Facial (labial, buccal)

• Lingual
• Incisal or occlusal
• Cervical
The form of embrasures serves
two purposes:

1-Provide a spillway for food

during mastication

2-Prevent food from being

forced through the contact area.
4. Labial and buccal contours at the cervical thirds (cervical ridges)
and lingual contours at the middle thirds of crowns

Examinations show that all tooth crowns, when viewed from mesial or distal aspects, have
rather uniform curvatures at the cervical thirds and at the middle thirds labially or buccally or
lingually, depending on the teeth being examined.
 ➢Facial and lingual contour protect the gingiva by the deflection of foods
and help prevent trauma.

A- Normal curvature of the tooth:

Physiological pathway of food have been

shown by arrows which provide
physiological stimulation to the
gingiva(correct amount of frictional massage
to gingiva) and cleansing mechanism

B- Undercontoured surfaces of the tooth:

Food impaction in gingiva sulcus and injury to gingiva will take place (food
will directly hit the gingiva)

C- Overcontoured surfaces of the tooth:

Atrophy of the gingiva due to absence of stimulation to gingiva by food

(food slips without touching the gingiva) .
5-The Height of Epithelial Attachment: Curvatures
of the Cervical Lines (Cementoenamel Junction
[CEJ]) Mesially and Distally

Cervical line: is the junction between the crown and the root which
located at cementoenamel junction.

• The epithelial attachment seals the soft tissue (gingiva) to the

tooth.

• Normal epithelial attachment follows the curvature of the CEJ

if the teeth are in normal alignment and contact.
 The extent of curvature of the CEJ seems to depend on:
1- the height of the contact area
2- the diameter of the crown labiolingually or buccolingually.

The depth of curvature on the CEJ on all surfaces is greater on anterior teeth and decreases
toward the posterior, and is greater on the mesial than on the distal aspect.

The CEJ is curved toward the apical on the facial and lingual surfaces of teeth and is
curved toward the incisal or occlusal surfaces on the proximal surfaces of the teeth.
 Types and Functions of Teeth
• Humans eat both meat and plants.
• To accommodate this variety in diet, teeth are
designed for cutting, tearing, and grinding
different types of food.
• Anterior Teeth
• The anterior teeth are the incisors and canines.
• They are visible when we smile.
• These teeth are aligned to form a smooth, curving
arc from the distal (back) of the canine on one side
of the arch to the distal (back) of the canine on the
opposite side.
Incisor Teeth
• Are single-rooted teeth with a relatively
sharp and thin edge.
• Located at the front of the mouth, they
are designed to cut food without the
application of heavy forces.

• Incisor means “that which makes an

incision, or cut.”

• The tongue side, or lingual surface, is

shaped like a shovel to aid in guiding the
food into the mouth.
Canine Teeth
• Also known as cuspids.
• Located at the "corner" of the arch.
• Designed for cutting and tearing foods.
• Are the longest teeth in the human dentition.
• They have the longest root and are usually the last
teeth to be lost.
• Because of its strong crown, long root, and location
in the arch, the canine is referred to as the
cornerstone of the dental arch
Posterior Teeth
• The premolars and molars.
• The posterior teeth are aligned with little or no curvature.
• These teeth appear to be in an almost straight line.
Premolar Teeth
• There are four maxillary and four mandibular
premolars.
• The premolars, also known as bicuspids, are a
cross between canines and molars.
• The pointed buccal cusps hold the food while
the lingual cusps grind it.
• They are not as long as canines and they also
have a broader surface for chewing food.
Molar Teeth
• Molars are much larger than premolars,
usually having four or more cusps.
• The function of the 12 molars is to chew or
grind up food.
• The molars have more cusps than the other
teeth. There are four or five cusps on the
occlusal (biting) surface of each molar,
depending on its location.
• Maxillary and mandibular molars differ
greatly from each other in shape, size, number
of cusps.
 Functions of Teeth
1- Mastication:
teeth are designed to perform this function.
Incisors Canine Premolars Molars

Wedge like At least two Multiple

Chisel like
Cutting projections projections
Cutting or
and (cusps). (cusps)
incising
tearing Tearing and Grinding
grinding
2- Appearance:
• Well arranged clean teeth with proper alignment give
nice appearance to the face.
• Teeth give support to the facial expressions.

3- Speech:
• for clear pronunciation and production of sound